Author: Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.   His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing. Email Ray Hanania at [email protected]. Follow RayHanania at Twitter

Former Secretary of State Jesse White Endorses Paul Vallas for Mayor

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Former Secretary of State Jesse White Endorses Paul Vallas for Mayor

Former Secretary of State Jesse White Endorses Paul Vallas for Mayor Venerated Public Servant Says Vallas Will be a Mayor for ALL Chicagoans  Fresh off his first place showing in the Mayoral primary, Paul Vallas is announcing the endorsement of former Illinois Secretary of State and venerated public servant Jesse White. The longest serving Secretary…

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Chicago, elections, Government, News, Politics, Taxes

Orland Fire Protection District “Save Rate” rises to 71 percent

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Orland Fire Protection District “Save Rate” rises to 71 percent

Orland Fire Protection District “Save Rate” rises to 71 percent Fire Chief Schofield emphasizes during lifesaving ceremony that citizens “have a better chance of surviving a heart attack if that heart attack happens in Orland” OFPD, Orland Park — Citizens who experience a heart attack have a significantly increased chance to survive a heart attack…

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Features, Government, Health, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Cook County Awards Community-Based Service Providers $25 Million to Address Gun Violence

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Cook County Awards Community-Based Service Providers $25 Million to Address Gun Violence

Cook County Awards Community-Based Service Providers $25 Million to Address Gun Violence IDHS and Cook County Justice Advisory Council partner to expand Anti-Violence Programming in vulnerable communities In response to high levels of gun violence experienced since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP),…

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Cook County, Crime, News

Orland Park’s Annual Curbside Spring Clean-Up Week of April 10

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Orland Park’s Annual Curbside Spring Clean-Up Week of April 10

Orland Park’s Annual Curbside Spring Clean-Up Week of April 10 Spring is almost here and with it comes the Village of Orland Park’s yearly Curbside Spring Clean-Up. This year’s collection will again be offered on residents’ regular garbage pick-up days during the week of April 10-14, 2023. Orland Park’s Curbside Spring Clean-Up is held in…

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Environment, Government, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Vallas Finishes in First, starts mayoral runoff as clear frontrunner

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Vallas Finishes in First, starts mayoral runoff as clear frontrunner

Vallas Finishes in First, starts mayoral runoff as clear frontrunner Candidate Pledges to be a Mayor for All of Chicago  Paul Vallas is the clear first place finisher in the election for Chicago’s Mayor, with early results showing him far ahead of his nearest opponents. While results will likely not be certified immediately, it is…

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Chicago, elections, News, Politics

Pekau silences accountability to expand his political power

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Pekau silences accountability to expand his political power

Pekau silences accountability to expand his political power By Ray Hanania Mayor Keith Pekau has launched a campaign to silence his critics and expand his power by reducing accountability in Orland Park, the largest municipality between Chicago and Joliet. His most recent effort to expand power is to remove Orland Park from the “confines” of…

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Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Getty celebrates 14 years as Lyons Mayor at packed fundraiser at Gibsons

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Getty celebrates 14 years as Lyons Mayor at packed fundraiser at Gibsons

Getty celebrates 14 years as Lyons Mayor at packed fundraiser at Gibsons By Ray Hanania Honored at a fundraiser on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 for his 14 years as a public official, Lyons Mayor and Lyons Township Supervisor Chris Getty thanked residents and local business owners for their support and cited a range of achievements…

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Cook County, Events, Features, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Jesse White honored by Orland Township Democrats at successful fundraiser

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Jesse White honored by Orland Township Democrats at successful fundraiser

Jesse White honored by Orland Township Democrats at successful fundraiser By Ray Hanania A gathering of the Orland Township Democratic Organization (OTDO) on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, honored the 24-year service of former Secretary of State Jesse White. White expressed his gratitude for the support he has received including from the more than 150 people who attended…

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Cook County, elections, Events, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

America should stand with Ukraine and set aside internal politics

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America should stand with Ukraine and set aside internal politics

America should stand with Ukraine and set aside internal politics By Ray Hanania The terrorist regime in Tehran, Iran is providing weapons to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Iran is the same nation that supports terrorist militias that have targeted American soldiers who are fighting to eradicate the ISIS terrorists in Iraq and Syria. And,…

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Blogger, Commentary, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Ukraine

Former Orland Park Asst Village Manager analyzes misguided referendum to eliminate Managerial form of government 

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Former Orland Park Asst Village Manager analyzes misguided referendum to eliminate Managerial form of government 

Former Orland Park Asst Village Manager analyzes misguided referendum to eliminate Managerial form of government  Video of former Orland Park assistant village manager discusses the referendum to eliminate the village managerial form of government proposed by controversial Mayor Keith Pekau. In a political move, Pekau introduced an ordinance to replace the managerial form of government…

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Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Park Rotary offering scholarships to graduating seniors

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Orland Park Rotary offering scholarships to graduating seniors

Orland Park Rotary offering scholarships to graduating seniors The Rotary Club of Orland Park is offering scholarships to graduating seniors of area high schools, including students attending parochial schools, who reside within the Orland Park Rotary Club boundaries. The application is open and requires students to complete an online application, upload two reference letters and…

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Education, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

EXCLUSIVE: Pekau has already decided to move ahead and eliminate the Village Manager form of government

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EXCLUSIVE: Pekau has already decided to move ahead and eliminate the Village Manager form of government

EXCLUSIVE: Pekau has already decided to move ahead and eliminate the Village Manager form of government Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau may not wait to find out if the voters agree with him to vote out the Village Managerial Form of Government in the April 4 , 2023 election referendum. He’s already introduced the ordinance…

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Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Why so much emphasis in Illinois on protecting criminals?

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Why so much emphasis in Illinois on protecting criminals?

Why so much emphasis in Illinois on protecting criminals? Protecting criminals seems to be the priority of politicians in Cook County and in Illinois, and Springfield. And, why is Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau such a whining little baby. Pekau has spent his entire term in office personally attacking everyone and anyone, including me, and…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Police, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Ziyad Brothers reports that the appeal of Mediterranean foods continues to rise among consumers

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Ziyad Brothers reports that the appeal of Mediterranean foods continues to rise among consumers

Ziyad Brothers reports that the appeal of Mediterranean foods continues to rise among consumers Ziyad Brothers, a leading omni-channel provider of branded Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food and beverage products, reports sustained growth in consumer demand for 2023 and beyond. Consumer appeal for Mediterranean and Middle East food products continues to grow, reported Ziyad Brothers,…

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Business, Culture, food, News, NewsWire

No-contact order protects child from reported abuse

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No-contact order protects child from reported abuse

No-contact order protects child from reported abuse CHICAGO – Fathers’ Rights attorney Jeffery M. Leving secured a court victory for a father with a problem that many fathers have: Their children are living with their ex, and a man in the household is reportedly abusing the children. It could be the mother’s new boyfriend, new…

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Chicago, Education, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire

Biden administration exposes how Iran is aiding Russia in Ukraine war

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Biden administration exposes how Iran is aiding Russia in Ukraine war

Biden administration exposes how Iran is aiding Russia in Ukraine war DASD (Middle East) Dana Stroul holds a press briefing on the Department of Defense’s participation in the U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council Working Group meetings. By Ray Hanania Iran is directly providing weapons to support Russia in its war against the people of Ukraine, a top…

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Government, News, rayhanania, Ukraine

Substance abuse in child custody cases to be topic of CLE at Leving firm

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Substance abuse in child custody cases to be topic of CLE at Leving firm The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. will host the next presentation of the Arthur S. Kallow Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar Series on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. CST at 19 S. LaSalle St. in Chicago. This month’s…

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Chicago, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia

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Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia

Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia G. Cuschieri To Write Screenplay For Wall Street Journal Bestselling Book “Flight of the Rondone” P.G. Cuschieri, of Joy Road Entertainment and writer/producer of the film Cut Throat City, has agreed to write the screen adaptation of Patrick Girondi’s acclaimed novel, “Flight…

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Books & Films, Entertainment, Features, Health, Movies, News, NewsWire